Women in the Middle Ages were more liberated than usually thought

New research by medieval historians has revealed women enjoyed greater freedom and independence in the Middle Ages than previously thought. Dr Sue Niebrzydowski stated: "We found women running priories, commissioning books, taking early package tours to visit the Holy Land.” She added: “Women were often widowed by the age of 30 and it gave them greater freedom. They could be more sexually liberated as there would be no child as evidence of their fornication or adultery.” The evidence from legal records, literature and oral history from the 12th-15th centuries will form part of a conference at Bangor University this week.